Aquatic vehicle



B. W. STRINGFELLOW.

AQUATIC VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1920.

1,373,681, Patented Apr. 5, 1921 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- L I lllhllllllhtllllllllll" D/fuas Wu u/m JTH/NGfELLOH attoznmg B. W, STRINGFELLOW.

' AQUATIC VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. 1920.

' 1,373,681. Patented Apr, 5, 1921.

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Application filed July 23, 1920.

To all 'w from it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnuon W. Srnrnsrnnrow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gulpeper, in the county of Culpeper and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aquatic Ve hicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in aquatic vehicles adapted to provide means for the user to propel himself upon the surface of the water and to be supported thereon by buoyant means. Its advantage consists in the fact that the user, while assuming the natural position of one swimming will be safely supported without effort and can propel himself by the use of his lower limbs, leaving his arms free. A novel feature of my device is the connection between the body portion of the device and the frame carrying the propelling mechanism. This connection is in the form of a universal joint making it possible to move the frame in any direction relative to the body member so that the device may be folded, the frame moved from position which would impede the user of the device when not in the water, and the frame used as a rudder when thedevice is operated. Another novel feature of my device is the application of air chambers both to the body member and to the frame, to afford buoyancy to the device. These air chambers are provided with vents which can be opened to allow the chambers to fill with water, thus ballasting the device as may be desired. Another novel feature of my device is the propulsive means by which the power eX- crted by the user is constantly appliedto the propelling means, which is adapted to operate after the user has ceased to exert power. My propulsive mechanism comprises duplicate driving means, each adapted to be operated by one leg of the user, and these are so related that when one is ap lying power, the other is adapted to revert to position to apply power, there being no interruption in the application of power to the propeller between the periods of encrgization of the respective driving means. llloreover, both of the driving means are adapted to be disengaged from the propeller which is adapted to continue to operate when the driving means are so disengaged, by the power hitherto applied.

The invention is embodied in the details Specification of Letters Eatent.

lPatented Apr. 5,. 1921.

Serial No. 398,403. 7

of construction illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter fully described, but I do not consider my invention limited to the specific embodiment herein set forth and refer for its scope to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the device, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

3 and Fig. & are views of a portion of the device, showing the parts in different relative positions.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a detail.

Fig. 6 is a view of another detail.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a front end view of the device.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.- 2, illustrating a modified form of driving means.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of a portion of the device, on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of one of the gears, on the line 11-l1 of Fig. 10.

The forward portion of the device consists of a body portion 1 composed of three sections, a back section 1, and two complementary front sections l and 1 the whole adapted to surround the body of the user of the device. The front sections l and 1 are hinged to the back section 1 by hinges 1, so that the body member 1 may be opened and then closed so as to surround the bod of the user. lVhen so closed the body memher 1 may be fastened by means of the lugs 1 attached to the front section 1 receiving therethrough the threaded pins i attached to the front section 1, upon which are car ried the wing nuts 1 adapted to bind the lugs 1." upon the section 1. The body portion 1 is provided throughout with an air chamber l to give it buoyancy. .This air chamber 1 is divided, as indicated in the form illustrated in the drawings, into air chambers l 1 and i The front chambers 1 and 1 which will be underneath the body of the user,

provided with caps, so that if desired these air chambers may be opened and allowed to receive therein sufiicient amount of water to serve as ballast as may be desired. These vents are so located as to permit this water ballast to drain from the chambers 1 and 1, when the user of the device emerges from when the device is in use, may be provided with 8.11V6llt8 1 which are and having the head 1 and the wing nut 1 adapted to co-act with the threaded end of the pin 1. These details of construction afford a pivoted connection between the body portion 1 and the frame 2 which carries the propelling mechanism of the device, and permit the user of the device to revolve the frame 2 about the pin 1 as a pivot so that the frame 2 may be brought parallel with the back portion 1 so thatthe frame 2 will not impede the movements of the user when in water too shallow for the use of the device, or when upon land. .Vhen thus moved into an inoperative position, the frame 2 may be held in position temporarily by the use of the hook H upon the back portion 1" and the co-acting eye I upon the frame 2, ormay be fastened in such position by tension upon the pivot joint by the wing nut 1?. w

The frame 2 is composed of the lower rod 2 and the upper rod 2", the front ends of which terminate in loops 2 and 2 respectively, loosely encircling the post 1". The lower loop 2 bears upon the enlarged head 1 of the post 1. These details of construction afford a pivoted connection between the frame 2 and the post 1, by Wl11Cl1 it is pos sible for the user to vary the position of the frame 2 relative to the body member 1 thus utilizing the frame 2 as rudder for the device when in operation.

The foregoing details of construction afford a universal joint between the body member 1 and the frame 2 which carries the propelling mechanism of the device.

The lower rod 2 and the upper rod 2" are connected at points adjacent their ends by the vertical rods 2 and 2, at the front and rear ends of the frame 2, respectively.

Fixedly mounted upon the rod 2 between the rods 2 and 2", is the cross-head 2 the use of which will be presently described.

The rod 2 is provided at points between the rods 2 and 2 with two lugs 2 between which is carried theyoke 3 hung upon the pivot pin 3 carried in the lugs 2. The yoke 3 is provided at its ends with the pivots 3 and 3 on which are pivoted. the journal boxes 8 and 3 respectively. Adjacent the pivots 3? and 3 the yoke 3 is provided with the shoulders 3 and 3 and the journal boxes 3 3 are provided with corresponding shoulders 3, 3 adapted to co-act with the shoulders 3 and 8 respectively.

ends of the shafts 4 and 5, are the gear wheels 4: and 5" respectively. Pedals P and 5 (Fig. are slidably mounted upon the shafts 4 and '5, having looped stirrups 44 and 5 adapted to receive the forepart of eac 1. foot of the user. The pedals 4 and 5 are each provided with two pins 4 4 and 5 5 which pass from the outside of the pedals and extend into the grooves in the worm shafts 4L and 5. The pedals 4 and 5 are provided with bifurcated extensions 1 and 5 which are adapted to receive therethrough guide rods 6 and 7 (Fig. 2) respectively. These rods 6 and 7 are fixedly connected to the cross-head 2 at their rear ends and at their front ends are carried in slots 6 and 7 respectively, in the yoke 3. The rods 6 and 7 are provided at points adjacent their rear ends with threaded holes 6 and 7 Pins 6 and 7 are adapted to be placed in holes 6 and 7 b respectively, at such points as afford the proper adjustment of the device for the user, as will be explained. These pins 6, 7 have smooth end portions 6, 6 9 and 7, 7 d and threaded central portions 6 7 (Fig. 6) respectively. The threaded portions 6 7 B serve to hold the pins in the holes 6, 7 The extensions 4: and5 of the pedals 4 and 5 are provided with inclined faces 4%, and 5 5 which are adapted to co-act with the smooth end portions 6, 6 and7, 7 of the pins 6 and 7 Centrally disposed at a point equidistant betweenthe slots 1* and 5 the cross-head 2 is provided with an enlargement 8 which has the journal 8 adapted to receive therein a stub shaft 8 held in the ournal 8 by the cap 8 and the lock nut 8 Mounted upon this stub shaft 8? is the gear wheel 8 The 110 three gear wheels 4*, 5 and 8 are so located that the gear wheels 1 and 5 may be alternatively brought into and out of mesh with the gear wheel 8, in'the operation of the device. 7 V

Mounted upon the stub shaft 8 aft of the gear wheel 8 is the propeller 8 of any well knowntype. A cage or screen S may be attached to the cross-head 2 and inclose the gear wheels and the propeller to afford protection to the same.

from the cross-head 2 and overlying the annuli 4, 5 are the brackets 2 provided with pins 2 adapted to extend into the grooves 4, 5, to retain the gears 4*, 5 upon the trunnions 2. The bearings 2 are adapted to receive the rear ends of the shafts 42K, 5 endwise slidably therein, concentric with the gears 4?, 5 respectively. The front ends of the shafts 4 5 are carried in the journal boxes 3, 3 respectively, in the same way as the shafts 4 and 5 in the first form of driving means. The shafts 4 5 are provided with transfixing pins 4, 5 The gears 4 5 are provided upon their faces opposite the annuli 4 5, with clutches 4P, 5 each having four clutch shoulders 4P, 5 respectively. When the shafts 4 5* are moved endwise by the oscillation of the yoke 3 towhich they are fixed through the journal boxes 3, 3?, they slide in the bearings 2 and the pins 4 5* are brought into and out of contact with the clutch shoulders i 5 respectively. In the modified form, the stub shaft 8 carries the gear 8 upon the side of the cross-head 2 opposite to the propeller 8 and in position to constantly mesh with both gears 4 5 located on opposite sides of the gear 8 In this modified form, the guide rods 6 and 7 are provided at their ends adjacent the cross-head 2 with bends 6", 7- respectively passing around the gears 4 5 and 8 An air chamber 2 is placed upon the top of the frame 2 to give it buoyancy. This chamber 2 is divided into several air chamhers, two being indicated in the drawing, 2 and 2 These may be provided with air vents 2 similar to air vents 1 and for the same purpose, and so located as to drain the air chambers 2 2 when the frame 2 is swung upon the pin 1 as above explained, when the device is not in use.

The use and operation of my device is evident from the foregoing description. The body portion 1 being placed upon the user, much as a coat would be, the frame 2 may be kept in inoperative position upon the back of the user, until he reaches a depth of water sufiioient to buoyantly support the user and the device. .The frame 2 is then swung about the pin 1 the user assuming the natural position of a swimmer, and the frame 2 being in the position indicated in Fig. 2. The user inserts the forward part of each foot in the looped stirrups 4. 5 of the pedals 4. 5 respectively. When the user extends his leg, pushing downward upon one of the pedals, the shaft carrying the pedal is caused to rotate through the pin .41 or 5 engaging the worm in the shaft. The downward pressure causes the yoke 3 to oscillate (Fig. 3) and allows the shaft affected to more endwise in the directionof the rear of the device. In the form of driving means shown in Fig. 2 and as illustrated in this figure,

this movement causes the gear 5 to. move into engagement with the gear 8 The gear 5 rotates with the shaft 5 and the rotation of the gear 5 is transmitted to the gear 8 when the gears are intermeshed and thus the propeller 8 isdriven, propelling the device and user. \Vhile the pedal 5 is thus applying power to the propeller, the other pedal l, through the flexing of the other leg of the user drawing up the stirrupe is being drawn toward the forward end of the frame 2, the oscillation of the yoke 3, through the action of the shoulder 3 on the yoke 3 and the shoulder 3* on the journal box 3 having caused the gear 4 on the shaft 4 to disengage the gear 8 lVhen the pedal 5 approaches the rear end of the shaft 5, the bifurcated portion 5 traveling along the guide rod 7 and holding the pedal 5 from rotation, contacts with the pin 7 and the inclined faces 5 passing over the smooth end portions 7 7 of the pin 7, cause the pedal 5 and the shaft 5 carrying it to move away from the guide rod 7 and thus disengage the gear 5 from the gear 8 It will be obvious that the location of the pin 7 c in the proper one of the holes 7*, will secure this outward movement ofthe shaft 5 and disengagement of the-gears, at the moment when the leg of the user has reached its limit of extension. Thus it will be seen that the device can be adjusted so that the proper operation of the gears may be secured for users of different leg lengths, making the device adapted to adults of dif ferent heights and children as well.

The propeller. 8 is constantly driven by the alternating impulses imparted to the gear 8 by the gears 4:", 5 The parts are so related that when the user changes the application of power from one driving means to another, the corresponding shifting of the gears 4 5 and S is accomplished without interruption to the propulsion of the propeller.

When the propeller has been energized sufiiciently to cause the device to travel without further application of power, the user may drift on this energy, by causing both gears 4 t to disengage the gear 8 This is accomplished by the user applying pressure toboth pedals 4 5 simultaneously.

This causes the yoke 3 to assume a position of equilibrium (Fig. 4:) and both shafts at and 5 are caused to swing outward by the co-action of the shoulders 3 3 and 3 3 This movement of the shafts causes the simultaneous disengagement of the gears a and 5 from the gear 8 In the modified form of driving means as indicated in Fig. 9, the endwise movement of the shaft 5 caused by the downward pres: sure of the foot of the user upon the pedal 5 causes the pin 5 to engage the clutch 5 upon the gear 5* and the rotary motion of the shaft 5 caused by the travel of the pedal 5 therealong, is transmitted to the gear 5 which being in mesh with the gear 8 causes the gear 8? to rotate and thus drive the propeller 8. The opposite endwise movement of the shaft l caused by the upward pressure upon the stirrup 4 of the pedal 4 causes the pin 4 to disengage the clutch 4? upon the gear 4: and the gear a is free to idle with its intermeshed gear 8 while the gear 8 is being driven by the gear 5.

The oscillating yoke 3 is used in this modified form as in the first form, and serves to regulate the endwise movement of the shafts 4 5". It will be apparent that it is possible for the user to drift, by disengaging both shafts 4 and 5* from the driving gears 4 5, by applying pressure simultaneously upon the pedals 5, as in the first form of driving means.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination in an aquatic vehicle of a body member; and a frame adapted to carry the propulsive means for said vehicle,

said body member and said frame being connected by means of a universal joint.

2. The combination in an aquatic vehicle of a buoyant body member; and a frame adapted to carry the propulsive means for said vehicle, said body member and said frame being connected by means of a universal joint.

3. The combination in an aquatic vehicle of a buoyant body member adapted to inclose the body of the user; and a frame adapted to carry the propulsive means for said vehicle,-said body. member and said frame beingconnected by means of a' universal joint.

4. The combination in an aquatic vehicle of propulsive means; two motivating means adapted to be alternately energized and operatively connected with said propulsive means; and means adapted to be actuated by I the concurrently energized motivating means to simultaneously disengage both motivating means from said propulsive means.

5. The combination in' an aquatic vehicle of propulsive means; two motivating means adapted to be alternately energized and automatically operatively connected with said propulsive means when so alternately energized; and means adapted to be actuated by the concurrently energized motivating means to simultaneously disengage both motivating means from said propulsive means.

6. The combination in an aquatic vehicle of means adapted to impart motion to said vehicle; duplicate driving units adapted to alternately drive said means; an energizing means associated with each driving unit and 7 adapted to operatively connect its associated driving unit with said motion imparting means; and means adapted to be actuated by the concurrent action of said energizing means'to render both driving units inoperative. Y

7. The combination in an aquatic vehicle of propulsive means; and two motivating means adapted to be alternately energized and operatively connected with said propulalternately drive the gear on said shaft; two

shafts, each adapted to'drive one of said counter gears; means for shifting said shafts to bring them alternately into driving position; means to rotate said shafts; said rotating means adaptedto automatically actuate said shifting means. a

9. Propelling means for an aquatic vehicle comprising a propeller shaft; a propeller mounted on said shaft; a gear mounted on said shaft; two counter gears adapted to alternately drive the gear on said shaft; two shafts, each adapted to drive one of said counter gears; means for shifting said shafts to bring them alternately into driving position, said shifting means being adapted to bring both of said shaftsout of driving position simultaneously; means to rotate said shafts; said rotating means adapted to automatically actuate said shifting means.

10. The combination in an aquatic vehicle of a frame adapted to carry the propulsive means for said vehicle; a cross-head at one end of said frame; a propeller shaft mounted in said cross-head; a, propeller carried on said shaft; a gear mounted on said shaft; two counter gears adapt-ed to alternately drive said gear on said shaft; a yoke pivotally mounted in said frame at its end opposite said cross-head; two journal boxes each pivotally carried on an end of said yoke; two worm shafts each having one end journaled in'a journal box, and its other end carried in said cross-head, each of said shafts being adapted to drive one of said counter gears; a pedal on each shaft having a pin adapted to co-act with the worm of the shaft, said pedals being adapted to rotate said shafts when moved therealong, said pedals being also adapted to oscillate said yoke to slide the worm shafts endwise into and out of driving relation with said pro peller shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BRUCE W. STRINGFELLOW. 

